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Which iPhone Smartphone Offers the Best Value?

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Which iPhone Offers the Best Value?

With so many smartphones and iPhones to choose, deciding which iPhone offers the best value isn’t always easy. Apart from specifications and features, you should also consider the iPhone’s age, price, and re-sell value to find the best value iPhone. To help you out, we have selected three iPhones that tower above the rest in terms of the value for money they provide.

Best Value iPhone: iPhone 8 Plus

Out of the three new iPhones Apple released in 2017, the iPhone 8 Plus offers the best value iPhone. Even though it’s $200 less expensive than the iPhone X, the two smartphones share basically the same internal components. We found them on Amazon starting from $915.

But the iPhone 8 Plus has the same design?

Yes, the iPhone 8 Plus still sports the same tired design as the iPhone 7 Plus, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For example, if you currently own the iPhone 7 Plus, all your current accessories should work just fine with the iPhone 8 Plus, including cases and car mounts. Some people may even prefer to stick with the familiar design instead of learning the several new gestures that are required for navigating the iPhone X.

Thanks to the A11 Bionic chipset, the iPhone 8 Plus is considerably faster than all older iPhones, so you can rest assured knowing that your smartphone is going to remain breezy for a long time. The iPhone 8 Plus also features basically the same rear dual-lens camera module that is present in the iPhone X. This means that you can take 12 MP wide-angle pictures with one lens and then capture 12 MP closeups with the telephoto lens. You can also record 4K video at 60 frames per second or Full HD video at 240 frames per second.

What about screen quality on the iPhone 8 Plus?

The only major thing that the iPhone 8 Plus sacrifices in the name of value when compared to the iPhone X is screen quality. The iPhone X has a beautiful, edge-to-edge OLED screen with 2436 x 1125 pixels and support for HDR. The iPhone 8 Plus, on the other hand, has the same Full HD 5.5-inch IPS LCD as the iPhone 7 Plus.

But because there’s no real reason to go beyond the Full HD resolution on a 5.5-inch screen, apart from virtual reality, we stand behind our opinion that the iPhone 8 Plus offers the best value for people who want an all-around excellent iPhone and can live without the latest and greatest design.

Best Value Iphone Alternative: iPhone 7

Since the release of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, the second-hand market with the iPhone 7 has exploded. For a very attractive price, you can get this one generation old performer, which looks almost identical to the iPhone 8, but lacks some of the bells and whistles of its younger brother.

Most notably, the iPhone 7 has the A10 Fusion chipset, which is not nearly as impressive now as it was when it was first released. While the chipset still has more than enough power for just about anything that you can find in the App Store, you may notice that it occasionally has trouble keeping up with heavy multi-tasking or bloated web pages.

As such, you shouldn’t buy the iPhone 7 brand-new from Apple. The smartphone only really makes sense if you don’t intend to use it for more than two years—but ideally just one. A refurbished version is available on Amazon for a fraction of the price.

The iPhone 7 also lacks wireless charging support, only has up to 128 GB of storage capacity, and has a lesser camera than newer iPhones. That said, we don’t think that the lack of support for wireless charging is something to worry about unless you now own a smartphone that has this feature and don’t remember the last time you’ve charged it with a cable.

Photography with the iPhone 7

The camera is then perhaps the biggest weakness of the iPhone 7 because it doesn’t support the special portrait mode nor any other newer features, such as Face ID. But make no mistake, the iPhone 7 still takes stunning pictures. It’s just that flagship smartphones have evolved since 2016, but the iPhone 7 stayed the same.

Apart from its reliable performance and attractive price, the iPhone 7 also offers very manageable size as well as nearly all of the strengths of the iPhone 7 Plus. If you don’t feel like splurging a large sum of money on a brand-new iPhone 8, and you don’t like larger smartphones, you should definitely consider getting a second-hand iPhone 7.

Best Value Older Iphone: the iPhone SE

Released in March 2016, the iPhone SE is old. But despite its advanced age, this wonderful little ode to the short-lived era of 4-inch smartphones still has plenty to offer to people who need a smartphone only for the most basic tasks, including taking pictures and making video calls.

The price of the iPhone SE is the winner here.

Perhaps the best thing about the iPhone SE, apart from its adorable size, is its very attractive price of just $349. That’s right, $349 for a new iPhone straight from Apple. It’s true that you can find newer iPhones, such as the aforementioned iPhone 7, for better prices on sites like eBay and Craigslist, but you need to be willing to get a second-hand iPhone to begin with, and not everyone is. Personally id check out Apple on amazon for a great deal (see here)

We think that it’s perfectly reasonable to spend $349 on a new iPhone SE, knowing that it doesn’t come with the latest bells and whistles and doesn’t have as much processing power to spare as newer iPhones do.

What it does have is a sharp 4.0-inch IPS LCD with 640 x 1136 pixels, the A9 chipset, up to 128 GB of storage space, 2 GB of RAM, 12 MP rear camera that can record 2160p video at 30 frames per second or 720p video at up to 240 frames per second, 1.2 MP front-facing camera with face detection and FaceTime support, and front-mounted fingerprint reader with Touch ID support.

How-To

How to charge iPhone 7 and listen to music at the same time

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Recently many in the Apple community have been asking… “How can I charge iPhone 7 and listen to music at the same time?”

With the release of the iPhone 7, Apple has officially eliminated the analog 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone. The lightning connector is the only port remaining on the iPhone 7.

In the box you’ll find EarPods with Lightning Connector for listening to music and Lightning to USB Cable + USB Power Adapter for charging. Unfortunately both use the Lightening Connector on the iPhone 7 preventing you from charging and listening to music at the same time.

charge iPhone 7 and listen — iPhone 7 – What’s in the box?

Luckily Belkin saw this problem coming and will soon be introducing the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar™ (F8J198dsWHT) adapter for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Priced around $40 it’s reasonable for an accessory but an additional cost to an already expensive iPhone.

RockStar™ Features:

Dual functionality to charge the device and listen to Lightning Audio at the same time
iPhone & iPad supported pass-through charging up to 12W
Supports up to 48 kHz + 24-bit audio output
Compatible with Lightning Audio headphones and the Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
Supports remote control & microphone from Lightning Audio headphones
Works with Apple iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case
Made for iPhone and iPad

belkin f8j198dswht — The Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar™ from Belkin

With the Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar™ adapter you’ll be able to use your EarPods with Lightning Connector and charging cable at the same time. Problem solved. Also since the iPhone now comes with a Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter you can use your old headphones as well.

Belkin iPhone 7 Adapter — Close-up of the Belkin Adapter, detailing two Lightning connections

Additional ways to charge iPhone 7 and listen to music simultaneously:

Buy wireless headphones to free up the Lightning Connector for charing. Apple’s new wireless AirPods were created just for this purpose. Though you’ll have to buy them separately. If you are not a fan of those there are many other styles available like the popular Beats Wireless Headphones.

Other Helpful tips:

Get a wireless charger for your iPhone. Currently even wireless charging needs a receiver that will still use your iPhone’s Lightning Connector so this isn’t technically a solution. However, having a wireless charger is easier to use than cables and helps you maintain a fully charged phone by just placing it on your desk or night stand charger. Hopefully in future releases this will be included in the iPhone.
Fully charge your iPhone before listening to music. This may not sound like a solution however newer iPhones can have 40 – 60 hours of audio playback time. Which means with a little planning you can leave your house and listen to music for a long time before charging.

iPhone

Apple iPhone 7 release date, rumors, features and design

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iPhone 7 Summary

Models: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7 Pro

Expected Release Date: September 2016
Faster Processor
No headphone jack
Two screen sizes
Dual camera lenses
Standard, Plus and Pro versions
Antenna bands redesigned

No headphone Jack

Recently Mac Fan a poplar mac enthusiast website in Japan released leaked schematics of the new iPhone 7 Pro that indeed shows the standard headphone jack is no more.

This means that the iPhone Lightning Cable port will most likely serve a dual purpose as both power input and audio headphone out.

One downside is that the schematics from Mac Fan also show no speaker replacing the missing headphone input area. Which leaves many fans questioning, why no dual speaker?

There are also some rumors that Apple has been developing wireless earbuds for the iPhone 7.

Leaked Images

Recently leaked images show the iPhone 7 design with dual camera lenses.

New Sizing

Some new renderings show the new iPhone 7 may actually be thinner than the previous iPhone 6s. The exact width and height of the dual lens camera is yet to be verified.

Dual Camera

There has been a lot of speculation about the dual lens for the iPhone 7. Unfortunately early leaked photos did not show any anticipated new lens designs. That is until now.

New photos are popping up showcasing dual lenses. However, it seems the new iPhone 7 Pro will be the only iPhone to showcase this new feature. Many believe the “Pro” model will be Apple’s new flagship phone.

iphone 7 pro dual camera — iPhone 7 Rendering of the Dual Lens Camera

In addition to recent leaks Feld & Folk have released a rendering based of those photos that shows dual lens incapsulated in a pill-like structure.

Smart Connector

The mysterious three dots at the bottom of the iPhone 7 Pro design leads many to believe that it is a Smart Connector similar to that found in the iPad Pro. The Smart Connector allows you to add accessories (like a keyboard for the iPad) without using cables.

Home Button

Initial rumors reported the possibility of the home button being removed as this would create more screen area. All schematics and leaked pictures say otherwise at this time.

iPhone 7 Design

Many news agencies are reporting that the iPhone 7 design will be boring and lack features. From the leaked images and rumors this unfortunately seems to be the case. With iPhone sales suffering this could raise some issues with Apple investors as new and better features generally spark interest and in turn sales. Lets hope Apple surprises us on

Hold out for the iPhone 7S if you can

The lack of features for the new iPhone 7 have people bummed, but if you can hold out for the iPhone 7S you might be blown away. According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who states the iPhone 7S will come with an OLED screen even though every iPhone previously came with an LCD screen.

Additionally various news agencies are reporting the iPhone 7S could ditch the “S” and go right to “8” or ditch the numbering system all together.

Release Date

In accordance to previous iPhone release dates the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7 Pro are scheduled to be announced and released in early September.

News

Recently leaked iPhone 7 images may be the real thing

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There’s one thing that you can be sure of in the months leading up to the next iPhone: many images of the device will be leaked. The vast majority of these images end up being fake and ultimately disappointing those who hoped the iPhone would look just like the leaked image. However, it appears that a recently leaked image of the new iPhone 7 may, in fact, be the real thing.

iPhone 7 May Have Smart Connector

AppleInsider was first to report on and share the leaked image last month. Initially, many believed that this supposed leak was fake because of the 3 dots on the back of the iPhone. These 3 dots represent Smart Connector, a feature that was first brought to the iPad Pro. Smart Connector allows the iPad Pro to magnetically connect to Apple’s Smart Keyboard. The connection also draws power from the iPad Pro, which means that the keyboard does not have to be charged prior to using it with the iPad Pro.

Smart Connector seems like an odd feature to bring to the iPhone 7, given the substantial difference in size when compared with the iPad Pro. However, it is possible that the iPhone 7 will use Smart Connector for another accessory besides a keyboard–perhaps a headphones accessory with rumors that Apple will be doing away with the headphone jack on the new iPhone.

iPhone 7 Design Is Nearly Identical to iPhone 6/6S

A recent report from Macotakara.jp, a Japanese blog that is typically very reliable, suggests that leaked image is actually the iPhone 7 Plus. They point to the outer shell/casing and the screen size as evidence that this is the larger version of the iPhone and not the 4.7″ iPhone 7. What’s more, the leaked iPhone 7 Plus is exactly the same size as the iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 6 Plus before it.

This indicates that the new iPhone 7 Plus won’t be any thinner than the current model. It also indicates that the screen may be the same as the existing iPhone, with no upgrades to the resolution. For those hoping for a higher resolution screen like that which is found on the Samsung Galaxy S7, this may be a disappointment.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus Will Have Some Upgrades

However, it does appear that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will have significant internal upgrades. In the leaked image, you can see what looks to be a dual lens camera. This is rumored to be exclusive to the iPhone 7 Plus and may lead to DSLR quality photos with the iPhone. While the existing iPhone’s camera is quite good, this new dual lens camera could put it far ahead of any other smartphone on the market.

Additionally, it is expected that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will come with faster processors. Apple has a habit of putting a new processor in each generation of the iPhone, so a new one in the iPhone 7 is pretty much a given. A new processor will make the phone faster and more responsive.

The iPhone 7 may also see an upgrade to the RAM. The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus had 2GB of RAM, which is still less than what many Android phones have, for example the Samsung Galaxy S7 is rumored to have 4GB of RAM. What remains to be seen is how much RAM the new iPhone will have.

iPhone 7 Will Debut In September or October 2016

As with previous years, it is expected that the new iPhone will be available to the public in either September or October 2016. More leaks and information is expected to come out as we get nearer to this date.

iPhone

Latest leaked iPhone 6s / iPhone 7 images

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As the widely rumored September 9th release date for the next iteration of iPhone approaches, so do the leaks! MacManiack obtained and released suspected images of the new iPhone.

It has been reported that the most significant changes to this new iPhone are coming in the form of a better user-facing camera, and new Force Touch technology for the screen, which was first debuted a month ago for new trackpads. The dimensions and aesthetics of the phone appear to be largely the same, which is the usual route for an “S” iteration, with larger changes coming for the “number” models. The sizes of the phones, 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch are supposed to be the same this year.

A lot has been written about Force Touch, and leaked images of the iPhone’s new flex cable arrangement seems to validate the new technology’s presence in the phone. KGI Securities, which pretty accurately assess and reports on Apple news, say that Force Touch will indeed be in this new phone. An analyst for KGI, however, also suggested that this new iPhone might not be a huge winner for the company, as it is projected to sell fewer units than Apple sold last year.

Perhaps the biggest change Apple is likely to make to its new phone is Force Touch. Force Touch allows a device to sense more exact pressure, by determining more exactly the area of the finger pushing against it. This technology is already in use on the Apple Watch, where a weak tap on email opens up the message, and a stronger push leads directly to a message reply. On the iPhone this will allow the user to skip long menus, like initiating navigation, or managing messages.

Another major improvement in the new iPhone will probably be the camera. The iPhone 6s or iPhone 7’s user-facing camera will have to be upgraded in order to keep pace with rival smartphones with more powerful cameras from 2015. The new “selfie-cam” is rumored to be capable of shooting slow-motion 240 fps video, and 1080p video at normal speed.

Other probable chances to the new device will be a better aluminum frame and higher resolution screen. Apple’s competitors, like Samsung’s Galaxy 6 and Edge, stepped up the hardware battle this year with hard metal cases and an innovative edge-display. Sources suggest that Apple has been eyeing using the aluminum alloy developed for the Apple Watch on its phones. For those who dislike the plastic bands on the back of iPhone 6, Apple has been working on a fix, although it likely won’t be ready by September launch. TechRadar reported in June that Apple had filed a patent for a new blend of metal oxides that would look like metal but allow radio waves to pass through. This technology would eliminate the need for the plastic strips, necessary in the iPhone 6 to allow radio signals into the phone.

Yet another possible upgrade to the phone could be a higher resolution screen. Apple has consistently improved upon their screens, from the iPhone 4’s “Retina” screen, to the iPhone 6’s “Retina HD Display”. Reports from IT Pro suggest that Apple’s new smaller model phone may feature a five-inch display with 400ppi resolution.

No matter what the details are, bigger phone, smaller phone, no plastic, new metal, whatever, global markets and customers alike eagerly await the new redesign.